Accessibility Certification Programs: IAAP, WAS, CPWA Comparison

Accessibility certification validates expertise in digital accessibility, demonstrating knowledge of WCAG standards, testing methodologies, and inclusive design principles. The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) offers the most widely recognized certifications: CPACC (foundational), WAS (technical), and CPWA (combined). These credentials enhance career opportunities, establish professional credibility, and ensure practitioners meet industry-standard knowledge requirements.

This guide compares accessibility certifications, covering requirements, exam details, preparation strategies, and career implications for each credential.

Q: What is the best accessibility certification?

A: The best accessibility certification depends on your role. CPACC (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies) suits non-technical roles and serves as foundational knowledge. WAS (Web Accessibility Specialist) targets technical practitioners like developers and testers. CPWA (Certified Professional in Web Accessibility) combines both for comprehensive expertise.

IAAP Certification Overview

The Certifying Body

The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) is the global organization that develops and administers accessibility certifications. Founded in 2014, IAAP establishes standards for accessibility professionals and provides certification programs recognized worldwide.

IAAP membership benefits:

• Certification exam discounts
• Continuing education resources
• Professional community access
• Job board and career resources
• Conference discounts
• Credential maintenance support

Membership costs:

• Individual: ~$245/year
• Student: ~$55/year
• Organizational memberships available

Certification Landscape

IAAP Certification Path:

Entry Level:
┌─────────────┐    ┌─────────────┐
│   CPACC     │    │     WAS     │
│ (Foundation)│    │ (Technical) │
└──────┬──────┘    └──────┬──────┘
       │                  │
       └────────┬─────────┘
                │
                ▼
        ┌───────────────┐
        │     CPWA      │
        │  (Combined)   │
        └───────────────┘

CPACC: Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies

What CPACC Covers

CPACC establishes foundational knowledge across accessibility domains:

Domain 1: Disabilities, Challenges, and Assistive Technologies (~40%)

• Types of disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive)
• Barriers experienced by people with disabilities
• Assistive technologies and adaptive strategies
• Universal design principles

Domain 2: Accessibility and Universal Design (~40%)

• Benefits of accessibility
• Standards and guidelines (WCAG overview)
• Laws and regulations
• Organizational accessibility management

Domain 3: Management Standards and Methodologies (~20%)

• Accessibility program development
• Procurement accessibility
• Documentation and policies
• Testing and remediation concepts

Who Should Get CPACC

Ideal candidates:

• Project managers overseeing accessibility
• Content creators and marketers
• UX/UI designers (foundational)
• Business analysts
• Product managers
• Quality assurance managers
• Compliance officers
• Anyone entering the accessibility field

Why CPACC:

• Establishes baseline knowledge
• Doesn't require deep technical expertise
• Applies across roles and industries
• Foundation for advanced certification
• Recognized by employers

Exam Details

Format:

• 100 multiple-choice questions
• 2-hour time limit
• Proctored online or in-person
• Available globally

Passing score: 66%

Exam fee:

• Members: ~$345
• Non-members: ~$495
• Retake: ~$195 (members), ~$275 (non-members)

Prerequisites: None required, but experience recommended

Preparation Resources

Official resources:

• IAAP CPACC Body of Knowledge
• IAAP preparation course
• Study guides and practice exams

Recommended study:

• W3C Web Accessibility Initiative resources
• Disability types and assistive technologies
• WCAG 2.1/2.2 overview (not deep technical)
• Accessibility laws (ADA, Section 508, EAA)
• Universal design principles

Study timeline: 40-80 hours depending on background

Maintaining CPACC

Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs):

• 45 CAECs required every 3 years
• 1 hour of activity = 1 CAEC
• Conference attendance, training, teaching
• Self-study and research count

WAS: Web Accessibility Specialist

What WAS Covers

WAS validates technical web accessibility expertise:

Domain 1: Standards and Legislation (~10%)

• WCAG 2.1/2.2 deep knowledge
• International accessibility laws
• Standards relationships

Domain 2: Design and Development (~50%)

• HTML accessibility
• CSS accessibility
• JavaScript/ARIA
• Forms and interactive content
• Multimedia accessibility
• Mobile accessibility
• PDF and document accessibility

Domain 3: Testing and Validation (~30%)

• Testing methodologies
• Automated testing tools
• Manual testing techniques
• Assistive technology testing
• Reporting and documentation

Domain 4: Remediation (~10%)

• Prioritization strategies
• Fix implementation
• Verification processes

Who Should Get WAS

Ideal candidates:

• Web developers
• Front-end engineers
• QA engineers/testers
• Accessibility specialists
• Technical consultants
• Design system developers
• Anyone implementing accessibility

Why WAS:

• Validates technical implementation skills
• Recognized technical credential
• Differentiates in job market
• Required/preferred for many positions
• Deep WCAG knowledge verification

Exam Details

Format:

• 75 multiple-choice questions
• 2-hour time limit
• Proctored online or in-person
• Technical scenarios and code examples

Passing score: 70%

Exam fee:

• Members: ~$345
• Non-members: ~$495
• Retake: ~$195 (members), ~$275 (non-members)

Prerequisites: None required, but technical experience essential

Preparation Resources

Official resources:

• IAAP WAS Body of Knowledge
• IAAP WAS preparation course
• Practice exams

Required knowledge:

• WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA (deep understanding)
• HTML5 semantics
• ARIA specification
• CSS and visual accessibility
• JavaScript accessibility
• Testing tools and methods
• Assistive technology behavior

Recommended study:

• WCAG 2.1 specification
• WAI-ARIA specification
• W3C WAI tutorials
• Deque University (subscription)
• WebAIM resources
• Hands-on testing practice

Study timeline: 60-120 hours depending on background

Maintaining WAS

Continuing Accessibility Education Credits (CAECs):

• 45 CAECs required every 3 years
• Technical activities preferred
• Conference attendance, training, teaching
• Accessibility project work counts

CPWA: Certified Professional in Web Accessibility

What CPWA Represents

CPWA combines CPACC and WAS, recognizing comprehensive accessibility expertise:

Requirements:

• Hold both CPACC and WAS certifications
• Maintain both credentials
• No additional exam required

What it demonstrates:

• Foundational accessibility knowledge
• Technical implementation expertise
• Comprehensive professional capability
• Commitment to the field

Who Should Pursue CPWA

Ideal candidates:

• Accessibility consultants
• Accessibility managers
• Lead accessibility specialists
• Those wanting comprehensive credential
• Career accessibility professionals

Benefits:

• Highest IAAP recognition
• Comprehensive expertise validation
• Premium career positioning
• Leadership credibility

Other Accessibility Certifications

Trusted Tester

What it is: US government accessibility testing certification using the DHS Trusted Tester methodology.

Administered by: Department of Homeland Security

Focus: Section 508 conformance testing

Best for: Government contractors, federal employees, those testing for government compliance

Cost: Free (online training)

Get it: section508.gov/test/trusted-tester/

Document Accessibility Specialist

What it is: Certification focused on document accessibility (PDF, Word, etc.)

Administered by: ADOD (Accessible Document Certification)

Focus: Document remediation and creation

Best for: Document specialists, content creators, those focused on PDF accessibility

Platform-Specific Certifications

Various vendors offer:

• Deque University certifications
• WebAIM training certificates
• Tool-specific certifications

Note: These are training completions, not industry certifications like IAAP credentials.

Certification Comparison

| Aspect          | CPACC         | WAS                | CPWA             |
|-----------------|---------------|--------------------|------------------|
| Focus           | Foundational  | Technical          | Comprehensive    |
| Technical Depth | Overview      | Deep               | Both             |
| Target Roles    | Non-technical | Developers/Testers | All              |
| Questions       | 100           | 75                 | N/A (both exams) |
| Time            | 2 hours       | 2 hours            | N/A              |
| Pass Rate       | ~66%          | ~70%               | N/A              |
| Prerequisites   | None          | None               | CPACC + WAS      |
| Maintenance     | 45 CAECs/3yr  | 45 CAECs/3yr       | 45 CAECs/3yr     |

Preparation Strategies

General Study Approach

1. Assess current knowledge:

• Review body of knowledge documents
• Identify gap areas
• Plan study focus accordingly

2. Structured learning:

• Follow official body of knowledge outline
• Complete training courses
• Use multiple resources for reinforcement

3. Hands-on practice:

• Test websites with various tools
• Use assistive technologies
• Apply knowledge practically

4. Practice exams:

• Take official practice tests
• Review incorrect answers thoroughly
• Identify remaining gaps

CPACC-Specific Strategy

Focus areas:

• Disability types and experiences (spend time here)
• Assistive technology categories
• Laws and standards overview
• Universal design principles
• Organizational accessibility concepts

Study resources:

• W3C WAI Introduction to Web Accessibility
• Microsoft Accessibility Fundamentals
• AbilityNet resources
• Disability advocacy organization materials

WAS-Specific Strategy

Focus areas:

• WCAG 2.1 success criteria (know them deeply)
• ARIA roles, states, and properties
• HTML semantics and their accessibility implications
• Testing methodology and tools
• Code examples and implementations

Study resources:

• WCAG 2.1 Understanding documents
• WAI tutorials
• MDN accessibility documentation
• Deque University
• Hands-on testing experience

Critical advice:

• Practice with actual screen readers
• Test real websites
• Know code patterns that pass/fail
• Understand why guidelines exist

Career Impact

Job Market Value

CPACC holders:

• Qualified for accessibility coordinator roles
• Project manager positions with accessibility focus
• Content strategy roles requiring accessibility knowledge
• Entry-level accessibility positions

Salary impact: Often $5,000-$15,000 premium for certified roles

WAS holders:

• Qualified for technical accessibility positions
• Senior developer roles with accessibility focus
• QA/testing specialist positions
• Consulting opportunities

Salary impact: Often $10,000-$20,000+ premium for certified roles

CPWA holders:

• Leadership accessibility positions
• Senior consultant roles
• Accessibility program management
• Expert witness/advisory positions

Job Posting Trends

Increasing requirements:

• "IAAP certification preferred"
• "CPACC or WAS required"
• "CPWA certification desired"

Industries requiring certification:

• Government contractors (often required)
• Financial services
• Healthcare
• Higher education
• Enterprise technology

TestParty's Perspective

TestParty's team includes CPACC-certified professionals, ensuring:

• Expert oversight of automated detection
• Accurate fix suggestions based on certified knowledge
• Compliance guidance aligned with standards
• Support from credentialed accessibility experts

Certification represents the human expertise that complements automated accessibility solutions.

FAQ Section

Q: Do I need certification to work in accessibility?

A: Certification isn't legally required but increasingly preferred by employers. It validates knowledge, differentiates candidates, and provides credibility. Many accessibility roles now list certification as required or strongly preferred.

Q: Should I get CPACC or WAS first?

A: If you're technical (developer/tester), you could start with WAS. If you're non-technical or want foundational knowledge, start with CPACC. Many practitioners get CPACC first for the foundation, then WAS for technical depth, achieving CPWA.

Q: How long does certification preparation take?

A: CPACC typically requires 40-80 hours of study. WAS typically requires 60-120 hours. Timeline depends on existing knowledge—experienced accessibility professionals may need less preparation.

Q: What's the pass rate for IAAP exams?

A: IAAP doesn't publish official pass rates, but community estimates suggest 60-70% pass on first attempt. Adequate preparation significantly improves chances.

Q: Is certification worth the investment?

A: For accessibility careers, yes. The credential pays for itself through career opportunities, salary premiums, and professional recognition. For those with accessibility as secondary responsibility, evaluate based on role requirements.

Key Takeaways

• CPACC provides foundational knowledge: Essential for anyone working in or around accessibility, regardless of role.
• WAS validates technical expertise: Necessary for developers, testers, and technical practitioners implementing WCAG.
• CPWA demonstrates comprehensive expertise: The highest IAAP recognition for career accessibility professionals.
• Certification enhances career prospects: Increasingly required or preferred for accessibility roles, often commanding salary premiums.
• Preparation requires commitment: 40-120 hours of study depending on exam and background, but investment pays dividends.
• Maintenance is ongoing: 45 CAECs every 3 years ensures certified professionals stay current.

Conclusion

Accessibility certifications validate expertise in a field where credibility matters. Whether you're building an accessibility career or adding accessibility to existing responsibilities, IAAP certifications provide recognized credentials that open doors and demonstrate commitment to inclusive digital experiences.

The path you choose depends on your role: CPACC for foundational knowledge, WAS for technical expertise, CPWA for comprehensive recognition. Whatever path you take, certification represents investment in professional development that benefits both your career and the users who depend on accessible digital experiences.

TestParty works alongside certified professionals to deliver accessible experiences—our CPACC-certified team ensures human expertise guides automated solutions.

Building accessibility expertise? Get a free accessibility scan to see how TestParty supports WCAG compliance while you develop your certification knowledge.

Related Articles:

• Best Accessibility Consultants by Industry: 2025 Directory
• Top 50 Accessibility Experts to Follow on LinkedIn
• Accessibility Training Programs: University Courses and Bootcamps

At TestParty, we're all about making accessibility achievable for everyone. AI helped us create this content so we can share more knowledge with the community. Our human team reviewed everything, but accessibility compliance varies widely—please consult with experts who understand your specific needs.